The IAG Research Centre bumper tests are conducted using a new international standard bumper test from the Research Council for Automobile Repairs (RCAR).  The test uses a standardised bumper beam that is 100mm tall with a flexible, energy absorbing cover that replicates a real vehicle bumper system. A backplate which is 200mm tall is fitted to the top surface of the bumper barrier; 25mm behind the front face. This represents the rear structure above the bumper of the vehicle being crashed into. The tests are run at 10 km/h. The frontal bumper test is conducted with the bumper barrier height set to 455mm from the ground and the rear bumper test to 405mm from the ground. This is to allow for front end dive that occurs during braking. Nine new light class vehicles have been tested at the IAG Research Centre, representing the latest car designs on our roads in 2012. Here are the results:

Vehicle	Frontal test repair costs	Repair Cost (%) of RRP(Frontal)	Rear Test Repair Cost	Repair Cost (%) of RRP(Rear)	Total Repair Cost	Repair Cost (%) of RRP(Overall)	Purchase price ($
Holden Barina	$1,405	7.8%	$1,168	6.5%	$2,574	14.3%	$17,990
Nissan Micra	$3,311	19.5%	$2,745	16.2%	$6,056	35.6%	$16,990
Ford Fiesta	$4,784	22.8%	$4,066	19.4%	$8,850	42.4%	$20,990
Suzuki Swift	$4,198	22.8%	$4,730	25.7%	$8,929	48.6%	$18,390
VW Polo	$6,658	31.0%	$4,379	20.4%	$11,037	51.4%	$21,490
Hyundai i20	$5,750	33.8%	$3,281	19.3%	$9,031	53.2%	$16,990
Mazda Mazda2	$6,641	34.3%	$4,679	24.2%	$11,320	58.5%	$19,340
Honda Jazz	$6,098	30.8%	$7,655	38.7%	$13,754	69.5%	$19,790
Toyota Yaris	$6,584	34.7%	$6,855	36.1%	$13,440	70.8%	$18,990

 

To view our bumper test media release, click here: